UPDATE: We will NOT be conducting a live chat on Saturday during the draft. We will instead be running a live chat on Monday from noon-1 p.m. that wraps up the Raiders’ draft and take a look at what they’re next moves may be. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Join Raiders writers Jerry McDonald and Steve Corkran for a live chat during the final day of the 2011 NFL draft on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Stefen Wisniewski, anointed the Raiders center as fast as Hue Jackson could get the words out of his mouth, will be counted upon to anchor the Raiders’ point of attack for the next several years.Continue Reading →

At the risk of being the you-know-what in the punch bowl, here’s the analysis of Russ Lande, the draft analyst for the Sporting News, on Raiders third-round pick (No. 81 overall) DeMarcus Van Dyke of Miami:Continue Reading →

Q: What kind of role did you play in the Raiders’ selection of Stefen Wisniewski? Did you have to sign off on the pick?

A: “No, not at all. Not at all. I was kicking his name around for a few days, and last night I was thinking, you know that could possibly happen. I watched him at Penn State since he was a freshman playing. And I thought he was an outstanding football player. I saw him mostly playing guard. If you can play center, you can play guard, tackle or quarterback, whatever.”

Q: What about him specifically impresses you?

A: “Well, he’s strong, he’s intelligent. That’s all been said about him. What we need is strong, intelligent guys that are going to go out there and have a tenaciousness at the way they play, just being tough guys. He’s got all that. He’s big and he’s strong. It runs in the Wisniewski family.”

Q: Any qualities of his that remind you of yourself?

A: “Not really. He’s bigger than I was, but he’s a good football player. I used to like to think that I could play football myself. I wanted to be the best, and he’s that same type of person wanting to be the best out there on any given day and he will be on every day.”

Q: Is there anyone that he reminds you of?
A: “I didn’t see enough of him to really give you a decent answer that way. He plays the type of football that I like, so he’s a Raider and he’s going to be a great Raider for us.”

Q: What are the biggest obstacles he has to clear?

A: “Well, it’s a faster game in the NFL. Stronger guys, faster. He’ll play against stronger, faster guys that will be more like himself. He is a very fast, strong individual, and he’ll be playing against people of the same likeness. So, it is an adjustment but if you’ve got the dogged determination, which I think he has, he’s not going to let that bother him. Thanks a lot. Good to see you guys.”